Now Reading: Taliban Marks Five Years in Power as Afghan Restrictions Tighten
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Taliban Marks Five Years in Power as Afghan Restrictions Tighten
Taliban Marks Five Years in Power as Afghan Restrictions Tighten
The Taliban is marking five years in power in Afghanistan with white flags across Kabul, rallies and sports events. Authorities praise the country’s “freedom” and security, while critics point to worsening restrictions…
The Story in Brief
The Taliban is marking five years in power in Afghanistan with white flags across Kabul, rallies and sports events. Authorities praise the country’s “freedom” and security, while critics point to worsening restrictions and a humanitarian crisis. Humvees left by foreign forces were also paraded through the capital, where checkpoints increased.
The Taliban says it has improved security and is building the economy, but jobs remain scarce. The World Bank estimates real growth at 4.8%, while GDP per person is declining as more than six million Afghans return from Iran and Pakistan. Women face bans from most jobs and public places, and girls cannot study beyond age 12. The UN has criticised restrictions on daily life, while press groups report surveillance, arrests and censorship.
The Indian Opinion
The easy story is either that Taliban rule brought order or that every change since 2021 is failure. Both claims miss the record. Security and some infrastructure gains do not erase restricted education, shrinking work opportunities, press repression and aid cuts. Nor does economic growth alone show whether ordinary families are better off, especially with falling GDP per person. The useful test is practical: can Afghan women study and work, and can incomes rise without outside aid?
Sources (2): ndtv.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
